Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II joins the SEGA Forever mobile lineup

Revealed today, the 2012 console and mobile game Sonic the Hedgehog 4 Episode II has joined the SEGA Forever mobile lineup. The updated release makes the game free to play, with ads, or $1.99 to remove ads. The Episode Metal DLC, once only unlocked if you owned both Sonic 4 episodes on the same platform, is now unlocked from the start.

Prior to its original release, fans were cautious of Sonic 4 Episode II following the release of Sonic 4 Episode I. But upon playing it, the second episode was seen as a marked improvement over the first episode. Physics were more in line with what was expected from a 2D Sonic game, stages and bosses were more creative, bosses were better and the addition of Metal Sonic (and tie-in to the recently rereleased Taxman and Stealth version of Sonic CD) was fun.

If you want to play the SEGA Forever version of the game, simply check the stores for your iOS and Android devices!

My only real issue with the game is the lack of a Tails and Sonic mode, or a solo mode. Also, it sort of stinks that it is the only Sonic Team branded game to not see a physical release. Would have been cool to see Eps I and II as well as the Taxman Sonic CD on disc. SEGA had done other collections of digital titles before and I think those three would have been easy money.

Fixed most of the issues? We must have played different games. Although the level layouts generally are better, the underlying engine is still very poor; it’s just harder to notice since there’s less uphill sections that make it as obvious. The game is still criminally short. The bonus stages are a huge improvement over Episode 1, but they’re still not as good as their inspiration from 2/Saturn Sonic 3D. The music is still very hit and miss, and aside from the bass line sounding like the Genesis, everything else sounds like poor midi stand-ins. The bosses are better, but still generally lackluster. This is my opinion, and many people share it. But I am not a bandwagoner. A bandwagoner would be over there with IGN saying Sonic was never good. Sonic 1-3K are good. Sonic Advance 1-3 are good, as is Rush (Rush Adventure, not so much). Sonic 4 episode 1 and 2? Not good. But if that horrendous point in Sonic history had to happen to spark the inspiration for Mania’s existence, then so be it.